AT&T to launch its LTE network Sunday in 5 markets

This Sunday, AT&T will launch its 4G LTE network in 5 markets. The lucky cities are Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. This information came directly from the carrier's CFO, John Stephens, in a media appearance. Another 10 markets will be up and running by the end of the year which will be a total of 15 markets covered by the service by the start of the new year. That works out to about 70 million people that will be able to use AT&T's LTE pipeline by the end of 2011.

AT&T started selling two LTE devices last month, a 4G USB modem and a mobile hotspot, both of which are manufactured by Sierra Wireless. The two are priced at $49.99 and $69.99 respectively, after a signed 2-year contract.  As we reported, the carrier's first LTE tablet, the HTC Jetstream, has just been launched for a $700 price tag with a 2-year contract. The carrier's first LTE enabled smartphone is expected before the end of the year. While AT&T currently markets some 4G enabled handsets, those phones run over the carrier's HSPA+ network which AT&T is allowed to call 4G even though the speeds are not as fast as what LTE technology can offer.

Verizon got off to a head start by launching its LTE network on December 2010. That service is currently available in 143 markets and covers 160 million people-more than half of the country's population. By year end, Big Red plans on offering LTE in 175 markets covering 185 Americans.

source: FierceWireless